AP PhotoDetroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson caught three passes for 58 yards in the team's 26-17 win over the New York Jets in preseason action on Friday.

DETROIT -- New Detroit Lions running back Reggie Bush posted a modest stat line in his preseason debut with the team, but his more immediate impact isn't something that could be extrapolated by looking over the box score.

On a 2nd-and-8 play in the first quarter of the Lions' 26-17 victory, quarterback Matthew Stafford lined up in the shotgun with Bush directly to his left. Also to that side of the field, in the slot, was star wide receiver Calvin Johnson, covered by Pro Bowl cornerback Antonio Cromartie.

On the snap, Bush ran a short out route as Stafford stared him down. The quarterback gave a little shoulder fake and Cromartie bit, crashing down on Bush and leaving Johnson to the deep safety.

You can probably see where this is heading.

Seeing single coverage, Stafford connected with Johnson for a 28-yard gain down the sideline. After experiencing a steady dose of double- and triple-coverage looks against his top receiving threat last season, Stafford was thrilled to see a cornerback let Johnson go free into the secondary.

"I'm used to the other way around," Stafford said. "It was kind of awesome having a corner drop Calvin to play Reggie coming out of the backfield. That's kind of the offense we envision and everybody else doing their part and making plays as well."

After the game, coach Jim Schwartz said the Jets put more defenders in the box than the Lions typically saw last season, forcing Detroit to beat them through the air.

It remains to be seen if the Lions will continue to see these defensive looks heading into the regular season, but this is what general manager Martin Mayhew intended when he signed Bush to replace Jahvid Best.

Whether it's leaving a linebacker in man coverage on Bush, or shifting a defensive back to that assignment, creating single coverage for a receiver or tight end, opponents will have to pick their poison against Detroit's passing attack in 2013.